Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery improves the appearance of the upper eyelids and/or lower eyelids, making you look more rested and alert.

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Who is a Candidate?  |  Intended Result  |  Procedure Description  |  Recuperation and Healing  |  Other Options  |  Insurance Guidelines  |  Note

Who is a Candidate?

People who:

• Have excessive, sagging or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin.


• Have excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision.


• Have lost their natural upper eyelid crease.


• Have puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that create a tired or aged appearance.

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Intended Result

• A more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes.


• Widening of visual fields if excessive upper lid skin has partially blocked vision.


• An eyelid lift will not remove or erase all wrinkle lines. However, it will soften wrinkle lines.

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Procedure Description

• The operation is done on an outpatient basis under sedation and local anesthesia.


• The incisions are made where the natural crease should be in the upper lids and below the lash line in the lower lids. Excess fat and skin are removed.


• If no excess skin and only excess fat needs to be removed from the lower lids, the surgeon may remove the fat through an incision inside the lower lids to avoid making an external incision or scar (transconjunctival blepharoplasty). This may be combined with laser tightening of the lower lid skin.

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Recuperation and Healing

• All sutures are usually removed within five to seven days.


• Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication.


• Bruising and sensitivity to light last at least a week or two. Swelling progressively disappears over several weeks.


• Eye makeup can be used shortly after sutures are removed.


• Contact lenses can be worn when comfortable — usually within three to seven days.

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Other Options

• Additional procedures that would enhance the result are: forehead lift, facelift, chemical peel or laser skin resurfacing.

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Insurance Guidelines

• Occasionally, if surgery is being done to improve the field of vision, insurance may cover upper lid surgery. Otherwise, these procedures are considered cosmetic and the patient is responsible for payment.

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Note

• The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.

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